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Air Chathams had the support from the Kapiti Coast District Council, Air New Zealand and the airport. Councillors voted unanimously to fund the airline by providing $150,000 over the next three years for marketing.

Duane Emeny said it had been a long time coming but they were looking to the future.

"After months of backwards and forwards and working things through, here we are and it's successful."

Otaki MP Nathan Guy also was there to welcome Air Chathams. He held a rally at the airport earlier this year after Air New Zealand announced it was canning its service.

"I'm pleased the community has rallied around Air Chathams … there's still a bit of resentment to Air New Zealand and the way they treated the community here but that's behind us now.

"Maybe in the future we can get connections through to Christchurch as that would be fantastic."